Mortgage Modifications: Beware

I had a client express their frustration with their mortgage lender with a theme all too familiar to me. They requested a mortgage modification to reduce their interest rate and monthly payments but the lender advised them that they would need to be at least three months in default for their application to be considered. The lender would not accept monthly payments thereafter unless the default amount was paid in full and along came the Notice of Default. 90 days went by and here they are filing a chapter 13 bankruptcy to stop the foreclosure sale.